Two stabbed in roadside confrontation near Temecula

TEMECULA - Witnesses were being sought today into an apparent road rage confrontation near Temecula involving a group of motorcyclists, two of whom were stabbed.

One of the injured men remains hospitalized, while the other received treatment for minor wounds and was released, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The assaults happened shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 15, at the off-ramp to Temecula Parkway, sheriff's Sgt. Kevin McDonald said.

He said a ''number'' of motorcyclists were headed northbound on the freeway, approaching the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint just inside the county line, when they ''engaged in a road rage incident,'' culminating in the parties pulling off the freeway and fighting.

Several men pulled weapons, resulting in one rider being stabbed multiple times, according to McDonald.

He said deputies were called to the location and found the victim on the side of the road. The man was transported to a medical center, where he's now listed in stable condition, the sergeant said.

''A second stabbing victim drove himself to a local hospital, where he was treated for superficial stab wounds and released,'' McDonald said.

No arrests have been made.

Witnesses to the melee, or anyone else with information, were asked to contact the Temecula sheriff's station at (951) 696-3000.